As Aella resigned herself to her fate, feeling the spiders crawling over her, their venomous fangs poised to deliver the final blow, the overwhelming fear drained her of all strength. She was left with nothing but the cold acceptance of death. She closed her eyes, ready to embrace the darkness.
But then, through the fog of her despair, she heard a voice—strong and clear, cutting through the terror like a beacon of hope.
"Starfall!"
The word echoed in the ravine, and suddenly, a giant yellowish-orange light descended from above, streaking through the air like a shooting star. Aella felt warmth engulf her, a protective barrier that shielded her from the horrors around her. The spiders, which had moments ago been on the verge of devouring her, let out piercing screams as they were seared by the light, their bodies burning away in an instant.
As the light faded, Eclipse's voice slid into Kairos' mind, laced with both approval and a hint of sarcasm. "A flashy entrance as always, Kairos. If you ever tire of saving damsels, you could have quite the career as a dramatic performer."
Kairos smirked, ignoring the jab as he surveyed the scene. Aella's eyes fluttered open, the warmth coaxing her back to consciousness. She was greeted by the sight of Kairos standing over her, his silver hair glowing in the light of the magic he had just unleashed. His black eyes, specked with silver stars, gazed down at her with a gentle smile, one that carried a hint of amusement and relief.
"Damn spiders," Kairos muttered under his breath, his voice laced with a mix of annoyance and satisfaction. "They never know when to quit."
"You say that like you're surprised," Eclipse quipped, his tone dry. "You've been in this world long enough to know that things here rarely quit, especially when it comes to trying to kill you."
Aella blinked, her vision still hazy, but she could make out the details now. Kairos had something slung around his neck skeleton arm, hanging as though it were some sort of trophy.
It looked like he had casually picked it up on his way over, a bizarre sight in any other circumstance, but in this moment, it was oddly comforting. He wasn't just standing there; he had come to save her, to rescue her from certain death.
"Kairos..." Aella's voice was faint, a mix of shock and relief. "You... saved me."
Kairos chuckled softly, kneeling down beside her. "Of course, I did. Couldn't let you become spider food, could I?"
"She really should be thanking me," Eclipse's voice cut in again. "I'm the one who taught you that spell. Without me, she'd be in several pieces by now."
Aella was genuinely surprised, her heart swelling with gratitude. But the adrenaline, the fear, the relief—all of it was too much. The overwhelming emotions hit her all at once, and before she could respond, her vision darkened, and she fainted, her body going limp.
Kairos caught her before she could fall back into the bone pile, tucking her gently under his arm. He glanced down at her, noting her delicate features and the way her wings shimmered even in her unconscious state. For a moment, a memory flashed in his mind—of a woman from his past life, back when he was just a high school student. She had been clumsy, always messing up no matter how hard she tried, but there was something endearing about her determination.
Shaking off the memory, Kairos sighed. "Why do I always end up with the troublesome ones?" he muttered, though there was no real irritation in his voice.
"Because you have a soft spot, whether you like to admit it or not," Eclipse pointed out, his tone more serious now. "And because you can't help but see a reflection of your past in others. It's both your strength and your weakness, Kairos."
As Kairos prepared to move, he recalled why he had ventured into the ravine in the first place.
Earlier that day, Eclipse had informed him of a way to heal Caelum's grievous injury. The technique was ancient, forgotten in this age where most would seek the aid of a high priest to restore a lost limb. But Kairos had another option—he could use his unique skill, Smelt, to forge a new arm for Caelum from a skeleton that matched his cousin's build and strength.
"You know," Eclipse mused, "this is the part where most would question the morality of what they're doing. But not you. You're focused, determined. It's what makes you effective, even if it makes others uneasy."
Kairos nodded slightly, acknowledging Eclipse's words without responding directly. The decision had been made swiftly. Leaving his cousin behind at the camp, Kairos had set off into the ravine, knowing it was a place where remnants of ancient battles and creatures of immense power lay buried.
He had scoured the depths, following the faint glow of celestial energy, which led him to a suitable skeleton—a formidable warrior from a bygone era, whose arm had retained enough latent power to be of use.
"You've done well to find a suitable arm," Eclipse continued, his voice more instructive now. "But don't get too comfortable, Kairos. This isn't just about putting a piece back together. You're dealing with ancient forces that could either empower or destroy you and Caelum."
With the arm draped over his shoulder and Aella cradled under his other arm, Kairos made his way back to the camp. The firelight in the distance guided him, a small beacon that would provide warmth and safety as he continued his search for a suitable skeleton arm to replace Caelum's lost limb.
As Kairos walked, he glanced down at Aella again, noting the tear stains on her cheeks and the way she still trembled slightly, even in her unconscious state. She had reminded him of that woman from his past, and though he didn't care to admit it, that was why he had saved her—not out of some sense of duty or affection, but because she had stirred something in him, a memory of a time when he had been a different person, in a different world.
"You can lie to yourself all you want, Kairos," Eclipse's voice was softer now, almost sympathetic. "But deep down, you know why you keep saving these 'troublesome' ones. It's not just about the past—it's about who you are now, and who you're trying to be."
Kairos sighed once more, a rueful smile playing on his lips. "Looks like I've got another stray to take care of. Let's hope you're not as much trouble as she was."
"And if she is?" Eclipse asked, his tone light but with an underlying seriousness. "Will you abandon her like you did before, or have you finally learned that some strays are worth keeping around?"
Kairos didn't answer, but his grip on Aella tightened slightly as he walked on, the firelight growing brighter in the distance. Eclipse's words lingered in his mind, a reminder that even in this new world, some things never changed.